Libraries on the Go:

OLA 2008: Session 318

Libraries on the Go:

A shared library experience


Who is here with me today:

Andra Steele from Oakville Public Library (Online Resources Librarian)

Susan Mickalow from Milton Public Library (Deputy Chief Librarian) Robyn Zuck from Barrie Public Library (Electronic Services

Librarian) Patricia Wallace from Middlesex County Public Library (Children’s

and Cultural Programs Librarian) Mandy Pethick from Innisfil Public Library (Reference Librarian)


The facts and nothing but the facts, please:

OverDrive Solution selected after a demonstration day with 2 vendors

Proposed pricing models were suggested Interest expressed by over 20 libraries initially Ultimately 5 libraries committed to the project


And the libraries are…

Interested Libraries Population Annual

Circulation

1 Barrie (single branch) 130,000 1,425,000

2 Innisfil (4 branches) 31,000 265,000

3Middlesex (18 branches) 69,000 369,000

4 Milton (single branch) 54,000 408,240

5 Oakville (5 branches) 165,000 2,193,000

Totals 449,000 4,660,240


So what was your role?

Primarily that of facilitator/arbitrator for the project Primary contact with vendor Developed a “Statement of Participation”

All libraries signed: 2 year project Included: responsibilities of SOLS and libraries;

collection ownership; payment; and voting SOLS invoices libraries, calls meetings and

conference calls


Libraries on the Go: Vitals Initial collection numbered just over 400 titles (now numbers

915 volumes) Borrowing period: 2 weeks Borrowing limit: 3 titles Holds: 5 titles

Eventually these changed to Borrowing period: 1 week Borrowing limit: 3 titles Holds: 3 titles


Libraries on the Go: Stats

Percentage of total circulation

11%

18%

21%

41%

9%Innisfil PublicLibrary

Milton PublicLibrary

Barrie PublicLibrary

Middlesex CountyLibrary

Oakville PublicLibrary


Libraries on the Go: Stats

Circulation Activity for Audiobooks

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

InnisfilPublicLibrary

Milton PublicLibrary

Barrie PublicLibrary

MiddlesexCountyLibrary

OakvillePublicLibrary

Series1

Series2


Who is using the collection? (1)Age Group %

12% 8% 12% 16%

52%

0% 0%0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%

12 andunder

13-17 18-24 25-44 45-64 65-70 71 orolder

Age Group %


Who is using the collection? (2)

92%

8%

0%

50%

100%

Female Male

Users by gender

Series1


How did users find this collection?How did you discover the audiobooks %

Marketing10%

Website57%

Library Staff23%

Friend3%

Other7%

Marketing

Website

Library Staff

Friend

Other


How do you listen to audiobooks?

How do you listen to audiobooks?

Computer39%

MP329%

CD32% Computer

MP3

CD


Are you happy with the product?

User Satisfaction rating

Very satisfied 148%

212%

332%

44%

Very dissatisfied 5

4%

Very satisfied 1

2

3

4

Very dissatisfied 5


So what does it look like?


Days in the life of a consortium…

Let’s go behind the scenes Our shared experiences, or

The good, the bad and the ugly


So, why did you come together?

Cost sharing (number 1 reason)


So, how did it all come together:Website development

Our first life lesson…compromise

“indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act—is founded on compromise and barter”From a speech on Conciliation with America, March 22, 1775.


So, how did it all come together:Collection development

Vendor tool: excellent Subject experts Spend according to collection contribution Timed purchases


So, how did it all come together:Selling the service to…

Patrons: No problem Staff: well that’s a different story


So, how did it all come together:Marketing the new service

Material provided by vendor MARC Records Library approaches Soft launch vs. hard launch


Yes, we’re all still friends!Pros…

Pilot project Shared expertise External facilitator New partners


Yes, we’re all still friends!Cons…

Nobody gets exactly what they want Multiple spokespeople


Would you do it all again?

YUP

Documents

Libraries on the Go: